-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ryan Braun must now sit at home in shame . If press reports are accurate , Alex Rodriguez and about a dozen other Major League Baseball cheaters might do that too . But the homes they sit in are million-dollar mansions . That seems to be the lesson young athletes learn from the latest steroids scandal .

Sure , they look bad . But both Braun and Rodriguez have millions of dollars to fall back on . What 's most troubling about this affair is how many of today 's young people believe cheating might be the only way to break through in sports .

In a recent Zogby poll , nearly half of males ages 18 through 25 thought that taking performance-enhancing drugs is critical to making it in professional sports or helping one 's athletic performance . And well more than half of those polled thought that at least one-third of the major leaguers in the recent All-Star Game had used performance-enhancing drugs , often called PEDs , to get where they are .

The problem is , for every Braun and A-Rod , a thousand young men will never make the majors -- but are willing to risk their health , even their lives , by taking PEDs . These young athletes need to hear more about Taylor Hooton than Ryan Braun .

Taylor Hooton was a star high school pitcher who turned to steroids to get to the next level . Although the steroids bulked up his body , they wreaked havoc on his emotions until one day he hanged himself . His father , Don Hooton , has committed his life to trying to help other young athletes steer clear of steroids .

Tragic decisions come when you combine motive with opportunity . That 's what we have here . Young athletes see juiced-up athletes in a number of sports get fame and glory and multimillion contracts . They want to be like them . They can go online and find dozens of websites that offer to sell anabolic steroids and other PEDs online .

They do n't have to find a shadowy figure lurking on a corner in a long overcoat . Teenagers know how to find just what they think they need on YouTube , eBay and other websites that parents have n't even heard of . But these children know nothing about the dangers of even the purest of steroids , not to mention those that are contaminated with dangerous substances . The Taylor Hooton Foundation has found PEDs that contain contaminants such as lead and other heavy metals , liquid mixers such as cooking oil , horse urine and other filthy contents .

What can parents do to keep their kids safe ?

Pay attention to sudden fluctuations in weight and muscle growth . If your son or daughter suddenly bulks up , it could be cause for concern . Additionally , pay attention to an extreme shift in personality . Teens are prone to mood shifts , but if suddenly your teen athlete is filled with unexplained rage , speak to him or her about what may be causing the extreme emotions .

It 's also important to pay attention to Internet and credit card use . Many teenagers have credit cards , which can be easily used to purchase PEDs online . Recently , the consumer group I head , Digital Citizens Alliance , made four purchases online , and the illegal drugs arrived in just under a month .

Talk to your teenagers regularly about why they should n't be using PEDs . To use them is cheating , they are illegal to possess without a prescription , and they can do serious damage to teens ' bodies and their minds . It 's a sad fact that if they play high school or college sports , these youths probably already know of someone who has taken PEDs . Do n't assume it 's someone else 's problem .

Most important , do n't ignore the warning signs , even if it leads to a tough conversation . Make sure young athletes hear the whole story .

Most of the media coverage around the MLB scandal is whether the PED use is `` worth '' the risk of millions of dollars in lost salary and the shame that comes with getting caught . But the real risk for young athletes is their health . The young athletes who appear to be our fit and finest could be facing decades of health trouble -- including liver abnormalities and tumors , increased risk for heart attacks , depression and more -- from taking PEDs .

Make sure that for every story about A-Rod , they hear about Taylor Hooton . Let them know that fame and money -- and the risk of shame -- are not what really is at stake here . When they use PEDs , they are risking their lives and their health . And that is never worth the risk .

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tom Galvin .

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Tom Galvin : Ryan Braun , Alex Rodriguez still have millions despite baseball scandal

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Galvin : Many teens think cheating might be the only way to break through in sports

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Remember Taylor Hooton , he says , a teen who killed himself under influence of steroids

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Galvin : Tell teens performance-enhancing drugs cause liver trouble , depression and more